VOLLEYBALL: Teams set for Pearland Nike Classic

By L. SCOTT HAINLINE, CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Published 11:15 am, Wednesday, August 24, 2011

If bigger is better, the 14th annual Pearland Nike Volleyball Classic will be the best yet with 84 top teams from the area and across the state converging for what's described by coaches and fans as the best event of its kind in the nation.

Pearland coach and tournament director John Turner and his entourage will use 21 courts at 10 locations during the opening day, with every team starting pool play after attending the opening ceremony.

Corpus Christi King defeated Lewisville Hebron in the 2010 finals, and both are back, while defending Class 4A state champion Austin Lake Travis and Class 5A powers McKinney Boyd and Coppell are among this year's favorites.

Information: Opening ceremonies are at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Pearland High School Searcy Ninth Grade Center, and tournament play continues on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26-27 ... Austin Westlake has won eight of the total 13 total tournament titles including the first four from 1998-2001, and the two straight in 2003-04 and 2006-07 ... The field features 44 area teams and 40 from around the state, and is up from 76 teams a year ago ... Many factors went into seeding the event, such as trying to keep district co-members out of the same pool, and an influx of private schools this year.